Colchicum

Saffron. Saffron spice is the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae), a bulbous perennial native to southern Europe and Asia Minor and cultivated in the Mediterranean countries, particularly Spain. Tme saffron should not be confused with either meadow saffron, ie, Colchicum autumnale L. (Lihaceae) also called safflower, or bastard saffron, ie, Carthamus tinctorius L. (Compositae), both of which are occasionally used to adulterate tme saffron. 

Colchiciae (23) is a toxic substance occurring ia Colchicum autumnale, it coataias the aucleus of pyrogaUol trimethyl ether. Colchiciae has beea used ia the treatmeat of acute gout, and ia plant genetics research to effect doubling of chromosomes. 

Fig. 1 Fluorescence scan of a chromatogram track with an extract of Colchicum autumnale (A) and of a reference track (B, 1 tg colchicine) start (1), colchicine (2).

The active principle of the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), colchicine (48), is one of the very few drugs that have remained in reputable medical use since ancient times. This drug was the only useful treatment available for the excruciating pain associated with crystallization of uric acid in the joints characteristic of gout until the advent of allopurinol. Although the precise mechanism by which colchicine gives this dramatic relief remains undefined, the antimitotic activity of this agent is... 

Zeit-lose, /. colchicum. -mass, n. measure of time (Music) time, rhythm (Gram.) quantity. -massstab, m. time scale, -messer, m. chronometer, time piece, watch, clock, -messung, /. time measurement timing, -puukt, m. point of time, moment, zeitraubend, p.a, time-consuming. 

In addition, the alkaloid colchicine (from Colchicum autumnale) blocks tubulin polymerization by binding to heterodimeric (3-tubulin between amino acids 239 and 254. Since it inhibits the MT-dependent migration of granulocytes into areas of inflammation and their MT-dependent release of proinflammatory agents, it is used to treat attacks of gout. Its antimitotic effect in the gastrointestinal system induces diarrhoea. Nocodazole competes for the binding site of colchicine and has similar effects on heterodimeric (3-tubulin. 

Several groups of drugs that bind to tubulin at different sites interfere with its polymerization into microtubules. These drugs are of experimental and clinical importance (Bershadsky and Vasiliev, 1988). For example, colchicine, an alkaloid derived from the meadow saffron plant Colchicum autumnale or Colchicum speciosum), is the oldest and most widely studied of these drugs. It forms a molecular complex with tubulin in the cytosol pool and prevents its polymerization into microtubules. Other substances such as colcemid, podophyllotoxin, and noco-dazole bind to the tubulin molecule at the same site as colchicine and produce a similar effect, albeit with some kinetic differences. Mature ciliary microtubules are resistant to colchicine, whereas those of the mitotic spindle are very sensitive. Colchicine and colcemid block cell division in metaphase and are widely used in cytogenetic studies of cultured cells to enhance the yield of metaphase plate chromosomes. 

Colchicum alkaloids la 344,345,420 Collidine la 354 Concentration zone, TLC plates with la 56... 

YAMADA M, KOBAYASHi Y, FURUOKA H, MATSUIT (2000) Comparison of enterotoxicity between autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale L.) and colchicine in the guinea pig and mouse enterotoxicity in the guinea pig differs from that in the mouse. . 1 Vet Med Sci. 62 809-13. 

Colchicine (6) was isolated by Pelletier and Caventou in 1820 and is the main alkaloid of the poisonous meadow saffron plant (Colchicum autum-nale L.) [12-16]. Following some considerable debate over colchicine s structure [17-20] and its successful synthesis [21-26], colchicine was found to bind to tubulin at what is referred to as the colchicine binding site [1,27]. 

Colchicine (9) Colchicum autumnale L. (autumn crocus), Gloriosa superha L. (glory lily) Anti-gout... 

Podophyllotoxin (38) Podophyllum peltatum L.), colchicine (9) Colchicum autumnale L.), vinblastine (4), and vincristine (5) Catharan-thus roseus (L.) G. Don] are standard microtubule-destabilizing agents used in cancer research. Paclitaxel (21), from Taxus brevifolia Nutt., acts as a promoter of stabilization of microtubules and causes mitotic arrest in an unusual fashion. ... 

SOURCE - Extracted from Autumn Crocus flower (Colchicum autumnale). Also available from many chemical companies. 

Some typical genera Colchicum Erythronium Fritillaria Gagea Kreysigia Lilium Medeola... 

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